Jeremiah 7:16

16 "Jeremiah, don't pray for these people. Don't cry or pray for them. Don't plead with me, because I will not listen to you.

Jeremiah 7:16 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 7:16

Therefore pray not thou for this people
These are the words of the Lord to the Prophet Jeremiah, forbidding him to pray for the people of the Jews; which he either was doing, or about to do, and which, from the great affection he had for them, he was inclined unto; wherefore, to show how much the Lord was displeased with them, and how determined he was to punish them with captivity, he orders the prophet not to make any supplication for them: neither lift up cry nor prayer for them;
referring to the gestures of lifting up the eyes and hands in prayer, and also to the frame of the heart, in the exercise of faith and holy confidence: "cry" and "prayer" are put together, because prayer is sometimes made, especially when persons are in great distress, with strong cryings and tears; see ( Hebrews 5:7 ) : neither make intercession to me;
or, "meet me" ^F15; or come between him and this people, and so act the part of a mediator, of which office intercession is a branch; it properly belongs to Christ. The Jews say

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 there is no (heygp) , "meeting", but prayer, or that is always intended by it; for proof of which they cite this passage: for I will not hear thee;
on the behalf of them, being so highly provoked by them, and determined they should go into captivity; see ( Jeremiah 15:1 ) .
F15 (yb egpt law) "et ne oecurras mihi", Calvin; "et ne obsistas mihi", V. L. "et ne intervenias apud me", Tigurine version.
F16 T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 26. 2. Taanith, fol. 7. 2. & 8. 1. Sota, fol. 14. 1. & Sanhedrin, fol. 95. 2.

Jeremiah 7:16 In-Context

14 So what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that is called by my name. This is the place I gave to you and to your ancestors, the place where you feel so safe.

15 I will force you out of my sight as I forced out all your relatives, all of Ephraim's descendants.'

16 "Jeremiah, don't pray for these people. Don't cry or pray for them. Don't plead with me, because I will not listen to you.

17 Don't you see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

18 Children gather wood, fathers light fires, and women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven. They pour out wine offerings to other gods in order to make me furious.